Mark 5:24 — Due to the Heavy Volume of Calls…

Mark 5:24
"So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him."

I want to pause in this midst of this bustling narrative section and consider this one verse.

It is good to note that Jesus went with Jairus despite the thronging crowd. In the midst of many demands and the many needs of the people pressing around, Jesus makes time to go with an individual to meet the needs of one very sick little girl. Jesus is capable of handling the requests of the masses, but he hears and responds to us all as individuals—He is a God who relates personally to all his creatures.

When I read this story, I am reminded of the old computer systems that they used to have in many department stores, appliance stores, etc. Do you remember back in the old days standing in line to purchase something and the clerk apologizing for the delay but that their computer or credit card verification machine was running either super slowly or was down altogether? It seemed that this would usually happen because too many users were trying to access the network at once or that the computer is being used in the backroom to total up sales, inventory, etc. Oh, wait, that still happens!

Jairus may have felt a little that way as he certainly would have wanted Jesus to hurry, but the thronging needs of the crowd would have slowed their physical progress. However, Jesus' power is not limited and his timing is always perfect for all involved.

Perhaps we have tried to call someone after a disaster or at a large sporting event and heard the recorded voice saying, “Due to the heavy volume of calls…” Or when calling a customer service number we can face extended wait times. More recently, people who have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic have had a terrible time connecting to government websites to apply for unemployment. What a blessing that our prayers are not slowed down by a heavy volume of incoming calls, nor by distraction for God is always watching over us.

God will never leave us hanging, he will never be late, he will be neither impersonal nor insufficient. Though tests to our faith and our patience will come, he is enough. He cares enough to be all-sufficient for us! However, because he knows what needs to be done first, better than we do, we may be tempted to doubt his care. In times like that, we need to refuse to allow fear to control us, and continue to trust Jesus and follow his leading.